This was an excellent second installment in the Murphy Shepherd series. Murphy is an over-the-top kind of character, the kind of hero we'd love to think exists in the world but know is probably too good to be true. But it doesn't stop us from pulling for him to survive the multiple life-threatening situations he experiences, succeed in his life-saving missions, and for him to find peace and happiness in his personal life. All of that is going on here in this book, while also informing us about more of his backstory, and I enjoyed it all. Once again, Jonathan K. Rigg's narration was excellent and added to my enjoyment of this story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Book 2 of the Murphy Shepherd series is a fast paced book! This time his finding the lost cuts very close to the vest. Beautifully written dark story lines with off page violence.

Compared to 1 and 3, I struggled mid book with following the story and the connections to some of the players. But Charles Martin is great with character development, this one digging into Murph, Summer and the girls.

For all the wisdom and skill of Murphy there was a pivotal scene that you want to shout, NOOO don’t do it, you know it is going to go sideways!

The man is made of steel with some MacGyver skills! The end is well done, setting the stage to Book 3.

The narrator is great! He adds to the characters!

Mixed thoughts on this one. The leaps from the end of Book 1 and the start of Book 2 were a bit disappointing and unbelievable, and "unbelievable" actually describes a great deal of this particular novel. There is no real plot for the majority of the book, though things do pick up in the final 25%. There were moments in there I truly enjoyed and was touched by, but so much of the book is just backstory and waiting for things to happen and then waiting to see how Murphy can survive another predicament. I'm reading Book 3 but unsure if I'll go on to read Book 4.

I love the narrator, though. He does a great job and helps me feel connected to the character even when nothing is going on.

And I’m sold on Murphy Shepherd. I like how this one went more into his backstory as well. So often all the backstory is dumped in the first book, but this really opened up even more. I also like that it feels like a continuous story. We have so many “standalone-series” where each book is still about the same person or a group of people but they can really stand alone. I like how this is continued like a true sequel…and then leaves us on a cliffhanger. Phew. That ending. In to the next one because I HAVE to know what happens.

It’s a hard topic, for sure. The story of Casey Girl just really brings it home. But it’s just so important that these kind of stories are told.

The narrator is solid in these books. Easy to listen to and does a really great job. Doesn’t try to do weird female versions of the character, which I appreciate in male narrators, just does solid narration.

Thank you netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction audio for review copies of this audio and book. My opinions are my own.

Charles Martin's The Letter Keeper (audiobook), the second installment in the Murphy Shepherd series, is a powerfully emotional and intensely gripping novel that blends the heart-wrenching depth of Nicholas Sparks with the pulse-pounding tension of John Grisham. Murphy Shepherd has dedicated his life to rescuing survivors of human trafficking, making it his mission to help others find freedom. But his world is shattered when the nightmare strikes terrifyingly close to home.

When his new wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls are stolen, Murphy is left questioning every truth he's ever held. With leads scarce and hope dwindling, he faces the agonizing challenge of finding his loved ones. In the crucible of unimaginable loss, love is the only thing that remains.

Though hope seems lost, Murphy is determined to expend his last breath in the relentless pursuit of bringing them home. With Charles Martin's signature lyricism and poignant prose, The Letter Keeper is more than just a thrilling search for justice; it's a tender love story, a raw exploration of the devastating cost of human trafficking, and a powerful testament to the transformative power of sacrificial love that persists "regardless of the cost." This book will leave listeners breathless and deeply moved.

This series is one of my favorites in a long time! I listened to the audios and they were fabulous. The narrator is perfect and i didn't want them to end. I have a dozen quotes that I will be refering to, about love and hope. Murphy Shepherd is the ideal hero, one who truly loves and knows sacrifice. Even recovering from major injuries, gunshots, etc - he will patch himself up and go after "the one." I love the backstory we are given while Murph is recovering from this injury. I cannot speak highly enough about this book and series! Wow. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It’s well written, esspecially the ending. But I feel like so much is repetitive in each of the books a good 1/4 or even more is the same as the other book. These feel like they were made so you pick which plot you’d prefer and you can read it alone. Not as a series cause it just feels like I’m listening to the same thing over and over. I also feel I would prefer if the crime has a bit more of a prominent part in the book. It just feels more like an autobiography.

I listened to this audiobook, which I haven't done very much, and I really liked it. The narrator was very good.

This is the second book in Charles Martin's "Keeper" series. Many of the characters from the first book of the series, "The Water Keeper," continue in this book, which I think is great. If you didn't have the opportunity to read the first book of the series, this book does well to read on its own.

The same protagonist, Murphy, continues to be a great guy. The book dives into the relationships and history of the people introduced in the first book. This book is a bit of romance and suspense with a wholesome view of life's ugliness. The interaction with villains of sex trafficking is the climax of the story.

The author continues to do a great job bringing a Christian perspective to ugly situations. The book is set primarily in Colorado, and the reader is enlightened in its beauty. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next book in the series. If you enjoy a good, suspenseful, well-written book, I think you'll enjoy "The Letter Keeper."

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book through NetGalley. Many thanks to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and the author, Charles Martin, for the privilege to listen to this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Human trafficking is a tough subject. Even though it was hard to listen to at times, I am so glad I finished it. Charles Martin weaves a story that will keep you engaged.

This story jumps around alot in place and time and is quite confusing as an audiobook. I also struggled to connect with characters or plot because of the robotic intensity of the audiobook narrator. Reading it in tandem with the audiobook would be best in order to keep everything straight.

I could not get into this book unfortunately and it was a dnf for me which I tried my best to push through!

Title: The Letter Keeper
By: Charles Martin
Pub. Day: June 8, 2021

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery, Christian, Audiobook,

Trigger Warnings:
Human Trafficking, Sucide, Drugs, Intimate Scenes

Memorable Quotes:

“Stripped bare, the human soul has one real desire: to know and be known.”

“But words are like bullets. Once they exit the barrel, it’s impossible to bring them back.”

“There’s a thing that happens when we start to believe the lies about ourselves, and when we think other people believe them too. Those lies become our prison. The bars we see through. They hold us captive. It’s like some giant hand holding our head beneath the surface of the water. Every few minutes it’ll let us up, only to sink us farther the next go-round. A vicious cycle. In my experience, only one thing on planet earth breaks the power of that hand and flings open the prison doors.” She nodded, whispering, “The truth?” “And until you speak it with your mouth, out loud, you’re bound.”

Summary/Review:
The Letter Keeper another novel in the Murphy Shephard Keeper Series by Charles Martin. In this narrative, Murph has to save the important women in his life from the evil lurking around every corner. Martin masterfully weaves the reader through the pivotal, and harrowing heartbreak of human trafficking, maneuvering the reader through the fast lane of emotions which will echo in the soul of the reader long after the last page. I highly recommend this novel and especially this series!

Thank you to Charles Martin, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, Boldwood Books , and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my review.

#TheLetterKeeper
#CharlesMartin
#BoldwoodBooks
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#ThomasNelson
#ZondervanFictionAudio
#NetGalley

I appreciate the opportunity to preview this book, nfortunately it was a DNF for me. There was no hook at the start that was enough to keep me interested as the story plodded slowly onward, and the narration by Johnathan K. Riggs only made it worse. This cannot be the same author with such critically acclaimed work, like When Crickets Cry. Where is that masterful storytelling that makes the reader feel as though they are a part of the fabric of the tale being woven together?

Murphy Shepherd returns.

In this one, he has to rescue his new wife, newly discovered daughter, and girls he has saved once before. The emotions that were missing in book 1 showed in this one. In the first book, it seemed more like it was just a job even though he memorized every victim's name. Murphy showed emotions in The Letter Keeper. Possibly because it was more personal but I want the emotion.

This one was better written. The audiobook was well narrated by Jonathan Riggs.

“The Letter Keeper,” wonderfully narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs, is the third book by Charles Martin that I have listened to. I had never read/listened to anything by Charles Martin before, but now I am a real fan. This is the second book in the “Keeper” series. (#1 is “The Water Keeper and #3 is “The Record Keeper.” In this book, the story of Murphy Shepherd (a best-selling novelist, an ordained Anglican priest, and a person, operating on the outside boundaries of the law, continues to rescue the vulnerable who are trafficked and support those he has rescued in the past. Even though the story is grim, the telling of it is beautiful an I admire Murphy Shephard and all that he stands for. Yes, he is almost superhuman in his powers (and perhaps everything about this novel is quite far-fetched) but it is full of heart and love. I plan to start the third book in the series immediately.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book. My opinions are my own.

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
Murphy Shepherd is the hope when everything seems lost. He finds the souls drowning in the world of human trafficking. His mission is finding a path to freedom and redemption to the lost soul. Then the tragedy he battles, hits close to home when his wife and three teenage girls are taken, he is left with no answers.
“When all hope is lost, love shows up.”
This is the second in this series and another phenomenal story!
I really enjoyed this one and I will continue reading! Charles Martin has become a beloved story teller and favorite author.
The audiobook is so well done. The mellow voice of the narrator takes the story to a new level. 5/5⭐
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin has it all! Action, adventure, emotions, a little romance, spirituality, good against evil, and underlying stories of resilience courage that prevails no matter what.

The Letter Keeper is the second book of the Murphy Shepard series. “Murph” is our hero how rescues young, sex-trafficked girls across the world for the US government and is also a trained priest. He’s already been through so much as a child and teen and then enrolls in the government program to use his skills to find missing girls who no one cares about anymore.

In The Letter Keeper, Murph rescues Casey, a trafficked girl with a long history of trauma. He convinces her to write her stories down and they get published into a book. Murph also finds loves again with Summer, a character we met in book one. Many other adventures take place in his journey throughout the book and resilience prevails as always.

The pace of the book is perfect. It’s fast and exciting to keep you waiting for what is next. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was great. He kept the pace and momentum going perfectly. He wants you to feel as you are in the story with all the characters.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I was so excited to read this series! It's a gripping story from the beginning, and it's perfect for the reader who wants a mystery that still holds lots of emotion and depth. This is a beautiful story and absolutely worth the read!

A special thankyou to Charles Martin, Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This series is the epitome of why I love NetGalley! I am not sure I would have found this series otherwise and it now belongs in my short list of favorites series of all time! ❤
The Letter Keeper is Book 2 of the Murphy Shephard series. I was thankful that it was marked part of a series. I decided to read The Water Keeper first and eagerly started The Letter Keeper right after. The series follows Bones and Murphy as they tackle the human trafficking trade and rescuing them from the dark underworld of sex slavery. While the series centers around their work, it is so much more! Readers are drawn into the lives of Bones and Murphy and their "dysfunctional" family. This story tears your heart out one minute and then gives you endless hope and joy the next. I haven't ugly cried like this in as long as I can remember. Charles Martin is a beautiful wordsmith. The books read like poetry more than a novel at times. The Keeper was released today! I will be waiting for more!!

The Murphy Shepherd series:
1: The Water Keeper
2: The Letter Keeper
3: The Record Keeper
4: The Keeper (review to follow this one)

Read The Water Keeper First!

Here’s what to expect from Book 2—with no spoilers—

-We learn more of Murph’s past as he is asked to tell more of his story.
-We gain a glimpse of what it is like to recover as a survivor shares her story.
-Bones gives Murph a letter to explain some of his actions but Murph is not sure he wants to read it.
-Payback has come as those closest to Murph are taken.

Again, the audiobook is well worth purchasing.

This book is suitable for mature teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this audiobook from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased the ebook version.